Krieger Case Charges Explained

July 27, 2001|By JUDITH MALVEAUX Daily Press

Some parents said they didn't understand exactly what Ryan Krieger has been accused of doing. Parent Tina Rodman said she heard Krieger referred to as someone accused of fondling and someone accused of child molestation.

"They used the word interchangeably," she said. "They said inappropriate touching, fondling, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual battery -- to the average person sitting their living rooms, those terms are very different."

At a July 19 meeting with school officials, Rodman and other parents wanted to know what the charge "aggravated sexual battery" meant.

"Saying a teacher inappropriately touched a child is one thing," she said. "Calling a person a child molester is another thing."

Krieger has been charged with aggravated sexual battery. Under Virginia law, that means he is accused of intentionally and sexually touching a person's "intimate parts." The charge is aggravated because the victim is younger than 13 and says she was touched against her will.

Under Virginia law, the definition of sexual abuse, which is part of the aggravated sexual battery definition, includes the words "sexually molest."

Judith Malveaux can be reached at 247-4793 or by e-mail at jmalveaux@ dailypress.com